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Lib Dems in Cornwall issue rainbow coalition manifesto

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The Liberal Democrats have set out a proposal for a shared vision for Cornwall in a letter encouraging other groups to join them in forming a "rainbow" coalition involving all groups on the council.

Liberal leader Jeremy Rowe sent the letter to other groups on Wednesday night, setting out a "programme of common principles" by which the council would be run.

The possibility of a cross-party administration running the council appeared to move one step closer to reality earlier this week when the Liberal Democrats and Indpendents, who together possess more than half the seats on the council, agreed that would be their preferred way forward. The two majority parties were joined by Mebyon Kernow, which holds four seats. However, the other groups on the council, including UKIP, Labour and the Greens, are yet to signal their intent.

The Conservatives, who boast 31 seats, a loss of 19 from the last election, are also yet to sign up to the idea, with it remaining a distinct possibility they could choose to stand in opposition.

However, Mr Rowe said he hopes everyone will agree to forming the multi-party council. In his letter he lists eight principles, but stressed to the Western Morning News he was open to negotiation.

In his letter he promised to:

Protect services

Improve housing options

Keep council tax fair

Drive the economy to create jobs within Cornwall

Take more council decisions in local communities

Always seek the best value for money and the most efficient services

Keep roads safe, clean and well-maintained and support local economies by cutting parking charges

And campaign for fair funding and additional powers from central government.

The Lib Dem group leader said the party had been given a clear mandate by the electorate to work alongside others on the council. He said: "We discussed the points as a group, a lot of them are around things we campaigned on but we think most of the parties in Cornwall Council agree on things we think are achievable."

The practicality of a "rainbow" council was questioned by Conservative leader Fiona Ferguson on Wednesday, who said the council's decision-making may be affected by the number of different voices.

But councillor Rowe said that it was important to listen to everybody and urged the Conservatives to join the coalition.

He said: "Everybody has got to listen to everybody. It's going to be difficult but we simply can't have a council that is simply about cuts, that would not be a very positive one.

"I think the council has got 123 councillors, so there are 123 voices, so we need to make sure everybody is listened to on this council."


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